Chapter 11 Find a Legitimate Origin for Your Own Laboratory

Shen Fen thought of something, "Qiao Qingyu, I've discussed it with the base leaders, and the office will start preparing for literacy classes tomorrow."

Qiao Qingyu was genuinely happy this time; she was about to shed the label of illiteracy. "Director Shen, I'll be the first to sign up."

"Good, good, good, once the preparation work is finished, we'll notify everyone."

After a few more words, Shen Fen noticed that Zhu Mingli was visibly restless. She frowned slightly but also prepared to head back to the office. Qiao Qingyu's eyes shone brightly, "Director Shen, I'm actually heading to Sister Qiao Wen's place. Let's walk together."

Shen Fen really liked talking to Qiao Qingyu, who had suddenly become sensible; because this girl was clever, she grasped things instantly, and it wasn't tiring talking to smart people.

Laughing and chatting, they arrived at Liu Qiao Wen's doorstep. At the time, Liu Qiao Wen was drying the sheets in the courtyard. Seeing that it was Qiao Qingyu, her expression darkened, and she hid behind the sheets.

"Sister Qiao Wen, don't hide, I can see you. Oh right, have you forgotten about the matter I mentioned to you yesterday? Do you need me to repeat it?" Qiao Qingyu's crisp voice started to ring leisurely.

Liu Qiao Wen hadn't expected Qiao Qingyu to be so direct. She didn't care about Zhu Mingli, but Shen Fen was someone she still feared a bit. If Shen Fen were to find out, it wouldn't look good for her.

"Alright, I remember, wait for me. I'll go get it for you." Liu Qiao Wen entered the house with resentment.

Shen Fen and Zhu Mingli returned to the office.

Qiao Qingyu leaned against the doorframe, squinting her eyes in the warm sunshine of the spring day, pondering her next steps.

Returning to the Qiao Family Team definitely wasn't an option; Han Xianglan wouldn't want to see her, because her most beloved daughter turned her decades of persistence and avoidance of suspicion into a huge joke.

So, she might really need to hunker down here for a few months.

Then, within a hundred miles radius of the family compound, it wouldn't be bad to grow some thousand silk hemp; she just didn't know who owned the rights to this land.

Moreover, she planned to establish an Agricultural Research Institute to provide a legitimate source for her laboratory.

She considered whether she should affiliate with Tenghai Research.

Just then, an irate Liu Qiao Wen came out of the house holding fifty yuan, throwing cold glances at Qiao Qingyu, who, while basking in the sunlight, looked like a pretty little cat, a trace of jealousy flashing in her eyes.

A rural girl like her dared to be so beautiful!

She threw five ten yuan banknotes onto the ground in front of Qiao Qingyu and accused her with a tone of disappointment and anger, "Qiao Qingyu, you are truly ungrateful. Despite how good I've been to you, isn't it just fifty yuan? You're always demanding it; it's not like I have not given it to you, are you a pauper? Have you never seen money in your life..."

Qiao Qingyu slowly straightened up, a hint of ruthlessness passing through her eyes; what seemed like a small cat just a moment ago now resembled a cheetah ready to pounce.

The air around her instantly became gloomy.

The thing Qiao Qingyu hated most in life was someone throwing things on the ground, expecting her to bend down to pick them up.

It wasn't that her waist was so noble; it was because those who threw things were despicable!

She was an orphan who had experienced from a young age the taste of relying on charity for food and clothing.

She made a lot of money, but she always cherished every grain of food.

Pointing at the scattered banknotes on the ground, her gaze dark and severe, she articulated each word, "Liu Qiao Wen, pick up the money!"

Liu Qiao Wen had never seen Qiao Qingyu like this before.

She was only eighteen, so much younger than her, yet her gaze was fierce, and her presence was commanding, carrying the authority of someone superior, and even the surrounding air seemed to drop several degrees.

Her furious emotion had now turned into panic and confusion.

Cold sweat began to form on Liu Qiao Wen's forehead.

"Qiao Qingyu, you, you… what do you mean? Didn't I give you all the money?" Liu Qiao Wen roared weakly, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you!"

Qiao Qingyu glanced at her coldly, then turned and walked away.

Liu Qiao Wen felt a sinking feeling in her chest and chased after Qiao Qingyu for a few steps before yelling, "Qiao Qingyu, you ungrateful wretch."

Qiao Qingyu stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at Liu Qiao Wen calmly, her voice even more serene, "Liu Qiao Wen, since we've known each other, how much meat and sweets have you eaten from my house, and how many kilos of millet and white flour have you taken from me? Should I make you a list? Yet, I have never even drunk a sip of water from your house. Who is the ungrateful one here? Should we ask everyone to weigh in on this?"

"You…" Liu Qiao Wen turned ashen-faced, looking at Qiao Qingyu with disbelief, yet unable to utter a word.

Qiao Qingyu's mouth curled into a sneer as she turned and strode off towards the office.

A sudden unease began to grow in Liu Qiao Wen's heart.

The sun had set below the horizon, and the remaining light enveloped the vast land as wisps of cooking smoke rose from the family housing.

The base's security personnel took Liu Qiao Wen away.

Qiao Qingyu had reported Liu Qiao Wen for espionage under her real name.

Each time He Xiuyu returned, Liu Qiao Wen would go to the commune's post office to make a phone call.

Somehow, this matter spread swiftly throughout the entire family housing area, but no one dared to treat it as a joke.

For a time, the air in the family housing complex became tense.

Sister-in-law Li was somewhat worried, but seeing Qiao Qingyu smiling cheerfully, she reassured herself.

She didn't like Liu Qiao Wen because that woman was always egging Qiao Qingyu on to cry and make a scene with He Xiuyu, and she also liked to take advantage of others, which was simply disgraceful.

Qiao Qingyu knew Liu Qiao Wen wasn't a spy, but she wouldn't be accused of slander because the party involved was He Xiuyu's own mother. In the end, it could only be attributed to an internal conflict.

Naturally, she would be fine, but Liu Qiao Wen would have to face the music.

The base had strict regulations against disclosing the whereabouts of research personnel.

Not even if that person is your own flesh and blood!

This was the unyielding system; unconditional compliance was the only requirement!

Being able to get rid of two annoying problems at once, Qiao Qingyu slept soundly.

But the base's security office was ablaze with lights.

Liu Qiao Wen was terrified and no longer cared that Meng Siqi was He Xiuyu's mother. If she didn't tell the truth, she was going to jail.

Because she had indeed reported He Xiuyu's whereabouts, and even though the individual was his mother, she had still broken the rules.

So, Liu Qiao Wen, crying and wailing, told the whole truth.

Director Lin conducted the interrogation himself and found the situation very tricky. He Xiuyu was at an important and secretive meeting and was unreachable.

He had no choice but to call Shen Haoze. With He Xiuyu absent, Shen was temporarily in charge of the technical aspects.

Moreover, he had a good relationship with He Xiuyu.

Shen Haoze was taken aback. Qiao Qingyu had reported Liu Qiao Wen for espionage under her real name? What was that woman up to now?

Su Yunyao's face darkened with anger, and her mouth curled into a cold sneer as she scoffed, "Qiao Qingyu is shameless. Who does she think she is, to report someone just like that? How could Liu Qiao Wen possibly be a spy? It looks like slander to me. They should arrest Qiao Qingyu and put her in jail instead!"